KAKAMMPI News

PARIS, France - When Russia's President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, he started a war that has killed tens of thousands of people, ravaged cities, and pummelled the country's economy. A year on, here is the cost of the conflict: Military losses According to the latest estimates from Norway, the conflict has wounded or killed 180,000 Russian soldiers and 100,000 Ukrainian troops. Other Western sources estimate the war has caused 150,000 casualties on each side. In comparison, some 15,000 Soviet soldiers were killed in a whole decade of fighting in Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989. Ukrainian soldiers often use the term "cannon fodder" to describe the Russians sent to their death along the frontline. They are often poorly trained conscripts who stand little chance against Ukrainian forces determined to defend their country. Others are convicts recruited in Russian jails to swell the ranks of Russian paramilitary group Wagner, ...

ANTAKYA, Turkey - An aid convoy on Tuesday passed through a newly re-opened border crossing into rebel-held north Syria, where help has been slow to arrive since last week's earthquake, which killed nearly 40,000 people in the region. Rare survivors were pulled from the debris eight days after the 7.8-magnitude quake struck Syria and Turkey, but the focus has switched from rescue to providing food and shelter to millions in need. A caravan of 11 United Nations trucks entered Syria through the re-opened Bab al-Salama border point, after Damascus agreed to let the world body use the crossing for aid. Before the earthquake struck, almost all the crucial humanitarian aid for the more than four million people living in rebel-controlled areas of northwest Syria was being delivered through just one crossing. The trucks were loaded with essential humanitarian assistance, including shelter materials, mattresses, blankets and carpets, Paul Dillon, a spokesman for the UN's Internation...

TOKYO, Japan - A fresh analysis of unidentified aerial objects that flew over Japan's airspace in recent years "strongly" suggests they were Chinese spy balloons, according to Tokyo's defense ministry. "After further analysis of specific balloon-shaped flying objects previously identified in Japanese airspace, including those in November 2019, June 2020 and September 2021, we have concluded that the balloons are strongly presumed to be unmanned reconnaissance balloons flown by China," the defence ministry said in a statement late Tuesday. It said it had "strongly demanded China's government confirm the facts" of the incident and "that such a situation not occur again in the future." "Violations of airspace by foreign unmanned reconnaissance balloons and other means are totally unacceptable," it added. Japan said last week it was re-analyzing a series of incidents involving unidentified aerial objects in light of a Chines...

TOKYO — Concluding his five-day official visit in Japan, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday met members of the Filipino community here, praised overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and expressed his aspiration that job opportunities will be enough in the country so working abroad would only be an option. The President also praised OFWs in Japan for their hard work and diligence. “Ang maisusukli namin sa naging suporta ninyo sa amin ay ‘yung aming gagawing trabaho para pagandahin ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan sa Pilipinas,” Marcos said. (What we can give you in exchange for your support is our commitment to improve the lives of our countrymen in the Philippines.) “At ang aking pangarap talaga ay masabi na natin na sapat ang trabaho sa Pilipinas at pagka nagkaroon ng OFW —pagka ang isang Pilipino ay nag-abroad para magtrabaho ito ay dahil pinili niya na pumunta sa abroad, hindi napilitang pumunta sa abroad dahil may trabaho, may magandang buhay sa ating bansa,” he said. (And my...

Several Filipinos who had been bound for Kuwait shared their distress over the recent temporary deployment ban on first-time overseas Filipino workers (OFW), particularly domestic helpers, according to JP Soriano’s “24 Oras” report on Thursday. advertisement Rubylyn Samuyag said she had amassed a pile of debt while processing her application to go to Kuwait, and only needed her Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) after her recruitment agency found an employer for her. She had been anticipating a $400 monthly salary as a household service worker in Kuwait. “Three months na po kami dito. Para makatulong po kami sa pamilya namin, yung papa ko na may sakit, tapos po makapag-aral 'yung mga kapatid ko at saka yung pamaangkin ko at aking anak,” she said. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) imposed the temporary deployment ban in Kuwait after the killing of OFW Julleebee Ranara. “Tayo po ay magbibigay ng paraan, magrerekomenda po tayo kung saan po natin pwede silang ipadala,” D...

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said at least 12 more Filipino human trafficking victims in Myanmar had asked to be rescued. The DFA earlier repatriated eight Filipino human trafficking victims from Myanmar, four of whom were made to work as online scammers in cryptocurrency farms. advertisement Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega said they estimated that around 50 or 60 Filipinos were being made to work as online scammers in cryptocurrency farms. “We expect there are many as 50 or 60, and they are not in one farm. Iba't ibang compound yan. However, hindi lahat nagpaparinig na gustong umuwi. Right now, we have maybe about a dozen or less than a dozen, in fact mayroon akong mga bagong nagme-message sa akin tungkol dito,” De Vega said on Super Radyo dzBB. (We expect there are 50 or 60 Filipinos, and they are not on one farm. They are in different compounds. However, not everyone was asking to be repatriated. Right now, we have maybe about a doze...

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said there were no reported Filipino casualties in Syria following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the said country and Turkey. advertisement Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega said there were 60 Filipinos in the Northwestern Syria where the strong quake hit. “There are 60 of them in the Northwestern Syria where the quake hit. Thankfully, there are no casualties,” De Vega said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB. De Vega said a team from the Philippine Embassy in Damascus will provide help to the affected Filipinos. “Mayroon tayong embahada sa Damascus. Pero anim sa kanila, 6-man team pupunta doon at magdidistribute ng tulong. Kung kailangan may dalhin sa Damascus at iuwi [na mga Pilipino], gagawin namin,” he added. (We have an embassy in Damascus. About six of them, a 6-man team will go there and distribute help. If there is a need to bring Filipinos to Damascus and bring them home, we will do it.) Howev...